My thoughts on this are, I don't leave Aeron and Lilly together for extended periods, just because of what ifs. I would hate to do it and then come home to Lilly dead.
Aeron has NEVER displayed aggression, but she could physically do HUGE damage to Lilly, it is that if factor I am not comfortable with.

Well today is Maddie's first day in the kennel. She was actually raised in a kennel. So, I think she will be ok. I put a few kongs in there filled with a few treats and some PB.
Hubby and I are not talking because of it. He thinks I am being mean and heartless. I sure wish I could make him understand. I do hate leaving her in there, it hurts my heart also. But, I just am not comfortable - because if something happened, if I came home, to Jake or Zoie all over the wall - I would lose it.....

I think you're doing the smart thing. Maddie's exactly the right age to start testing everyone's limits and trying to push her way up the ladder. And you say that Jake is a lab/bc mix - they may not be fighting breeds, but they're also not famous for being marshallows. There are dogs who accept and dogs who push back, and I've never seen either breed accept much guff from other dogs. And, although you haven't had problems so far, I find it troubling that your other female dog is also a pit mix. Same-sex fighting is very common in all breeds, let along with pit bulls. I think you're being smart to keep them separate unless you're around.

Well today is Maddie's first day in the kennel. She was actually raised in a kennel. So, I think she will be ok. I put a few kongs in there filled with a few treats and some PB.
Hubby and I are not talking because of it. He thinks I am being mean and heartless. I sure wish I could make him understand. I do hate leaving her in there, it hurts my heart also. But, I just am not comfortable - because if something happened, if I came home, to Jake or Zoie all over the wall - I would lose it.....

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i sure hope you and your husband can come to agreement over it. i figure.... when i'm home during the day, most of what my dogs do is sleep anyway, so it doesn't make that much difference if they're sleeping on the couch or they're sleeping in their crates.

both of them crash out in their crates with the doors open when i'm home, so i figure they can't hate them that badly.

Thanks.
Today we are trying to compromise. We are seperating the dogs. We bought another baby gate. We gave Maddie the downstairs(kitchen front room and living room) and Jake and Zoe the upstairs. We will see how this goes today.
My husband has this thougt - and maybe some may know if it has truth to it. By seperating them during the day - will they become more aggressive?

My husband has this thougt - and maybe some may know if it has truth to it. By seperating them during the day - will they become more aggressive?

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I haven't seen this within my own dogs. The best thing you can do is prevent those first few fights that CAN lead to life long grudge matches. The best way to prevent said fights is to feed seperately, give high value treats/toys apart (or under strict supervision) and to never allow your dogs to be alone together when you cannot monitor them.

As for folks who believe that each dog within a breed is different, I agree and disagree. There are many Coonhounds that don't hunt and many Border Collies that don't herd, but many more who do to varying degrees of ability. Selective breeding is a powerful thing.

I don't see how seperating them would make them MORE aggressive. Seperating them means they are just not able to get into fights or to get on each others nerves as much. Keeping them together means they could wear on each others nerves more, and rouse more of a squabble over nothing.

Put it to your husband this way - does he like spending every second of every day with you? I mean honestly? I love my boyfriend a lot but I enjoy having my own time to do my own things, because otherwise we'd get on each other's nerves and get into more arguements. Same way with dogs, they need time outs from each other just as we need time outs.

Put it to your husband this way - does he like spending every second of every day with you? I mean honestly? I love my boyfriend a lot but I enjoy having my own time to do my own things, because otherwise we'd get on each other's nerves and get into more arguements. Same way with dogs, they need time outs from each other just as we need time outs.